This summer, world-record holder Faith Kipyegon chased a nearly impossible goal: the elusive sub-4-minute mile. Though she didn’t quite make it, one reason she came so close was her pacing team—runners surrounding her, helping her stay steady, one even turning back mid-race to encourage her on.

We may not be trying to beat a 4-minute mile, but we all know the pressure to run faster. Whether it’s ministry, motherhood, or the constant pull of modern life, it’s easy to let the culture—or even our own expectations—set the tempo. The good news is the Lord has sent his Spirit to be our faithful pacer. As Aimee Joseph writes, “We aren’t left to ourselves or to influencers to set our pace. We’ve been graciously given a helper and internal pacer in the Holy Spirit.” 

He knows the course, the purpose, and the exact tempo we need to run with endurance—and joy.